The 82-year-old singer said doctors expect a full recovery after surgery and do not anticipate chemotherapy or radiation.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Singer and songwriter Barry Manilow revealed that he has been diagnosed with lung cancer and will postpone several arena concerts scheduled for January while he undergoes surgery.
Manilow shared the news in a personal statement announced on Instagram, explaining that doctors discovered a cancerous spot on his left lung during recent medical testing and believe the disease was caught early and has not spread.
The 82-year-old performer said the tumor will be surgically removed and that physicians do not expect he will need chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
“As many of you know I recently went through six weeks of bronchitis followed by a relapse of another five weeks,” Manilow wrote. He said that although he had recovered and returned to performing at the Westgate Las Vegas, his doctor ordered an MRI as a precaution.
“The MRI discovered a cancerous spot on my left lung that needs to be removed,” he wrote. “It’s pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was found so early. That’s the good news.”
Manilow said the diagnosis followed weeks of respiratory illness earlier this year, including a relapse after an initial recovery. He had resumed his Las Vegas performances when additional imaging revealed the tumor.
“The bad news is that now that the Christmas Gift of Love concerts are over I’m going into surgery to have the spot removed,” he wrote. “The doctors do not believe it has spread, and I’m taking tests to confirm their diagnosis. So that’s it. No chemo. No radiation. Just chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns.”
Because of the surgery and recovery period, Manilow said his planned nine-city U.S. tour originally set to begin in January has been postponed. The affected shows are now scheduled for late February, March, and April.
“I’m very sorry that you have to change your plans,” he wrote in a message to fans.
Manilow said his next performances will take place over Valentine’s Day weekend at what he called his “home away from home,” the Westgate resort and casino in Las Vegas, with shows planned for Feb. 12, 13, and 14.
“Something tells me February is going to be one big party,” he wrote. “I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year and remember, if you even have the slightest symptom, get tested!”
Manilow, a longtime smoker, has recorded and performed music for more than five decades, producing a catalog that includes hits such as “Copacabana,” “Mandy,” “I Write the Songs,” and “Looks Like We Made It.” He has remained an active touring artist well into his 80s, with extended Las Vegas residencies and frequent arena shows.
This is not the first time health issues have disrupted his schedule. In 2013, he postponed performances during his Broadway comeback due to bronchitis, USA Today reported. In 2011, Manilow also disclosed that he has atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm he said he had been living with since the late 1990s or early 2000s.
Manilow did not provide a specific date for the surgery but said additional tests are underway to confirm doctors’ assessments.
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